Open Doors, an organization that advocates for persecuted Christians, recently released its latest World Watch List—a report that highlights and ranks the 50 worst nations to be Christian. It found that 2015 was the “worst year in modern history for Christian persecution.”
Who claims the lion’s share of this unprecedented persecution? Muslims—of all races, nationalities, languages, and socio-political circumstances: Muslims from among America’s closest allies (Saudi Arabia #14 worst persecutor) and its opponents (Iran #9); Muslims from economically rich nations (Qatar #21) and from poor nations (Somalia #7 and Yemen #11); Muslims from “Islamic republic” nations (Afghanistan #4) and from “moderate” nations (Malaysia #30 and Indonesia #43); Muslims from nations rescued by America (Kuwait #41) and Muslims from nations claiming “grievances” against the U.S. (fill in the blank __).
The report finds that “Islamic extremism” is the main source of persecution in 41 of the top 50 countries—that is, 82 percent of the world’s persecution of Christians is being committed by Muslims. As for the top ten worst countries persecuting Christians, nine of them are Muslim-majority—that is, 90 percent of nations where Christians experience “extreme persecution” are Muslim.
Still, considering that the 2016 World Watch List ranks North Korea—non-Islamic, communist—as the number one worst persecutor of Christians, why belabor the religious identity of Muslims? Surely this suggests that Christian persecution is not intrinsic to the Islamic world but is rather a product of repressive regimes and other socio-economic factors—as the North Korean example suggests and as many politicians and other talking heads maintain?
Here we come to some critically important but rarely acknowledged distinctions. While Christians are indeed suffering extreme persecution in North Korea, these fall into the realm of the temporal and aberrant. Something as simple as overthrowing Kim Jong-un’s regime could lead to a quick halt to the persecution—just as the fall of Communist Soviet Union saw the end of religious persecution. The vibrancy of Christianity in South Korea is suggestive of what may be in store—and thus creates such fear for—its northern counterpart.
In the Islamic world, however, a similar scenario would not alleviate the sufferings of Christians by an iota. Quite the opposite; where dictators fall (often thanks to U.S. intervention)—Saddam in Iraq, Qaddafi in Libya, and ongoing attempts against Assad in Syria—Christian persecution dramatically rises. Today Iraq is the second worst nation in the world in which to be Christian, Syria fifth, and Libya tenth. A decade ago under the “evil” dictators, Iraq was ranked 32, Syria 47, and Libya 22.
The difference between Muslim and non-Muslim persecution (e.g., communist) of Christians is that the latter is often rooted in a particular regime. Conversely, Muslim persecution of Christians is perennial, existential, and far transcends this or that regime or ruler. It is part and parcel of the history, doctrines, and socio-political makeup of Islam—hence its tenacity; hence its ubiquity.
Moreover, atheistic communism is a relatively new phenomenon—about a century old—and, over the years, its rule (if not variants of its ideology) has greatly waned, so that only a handful of nations today are communist.
On the other hand, Muslim persecution of Christians is as old as Islam. It is a well-documented, even if suppressed, history.
To further understand the differences between temporal and existential persecution, consider Russia. Under communism, its own Christians were persecuted; yet today, after the fall of the USSR, Russia is again reclaiming its Orthodox Christian heritage.
North Korea—where Kim Jong-un is worshipped as a god and the people are shielded from reality—seems to be experiencing what Russia did under the Soviet Union. But if the once mighty USSR could not persevere, surely it’s a matter of time before tiny North Korea’s walls also come crumbling down, with the resulting religious freedom that former communist nations have experienced. (Tellingly, the only countries that were part of the USSR that still persecute Christians are Muslim, such as Uzbekistan, #15, and Turkmenistan, #19.)
Time, however, is not on the side of Christians living amid Muslims; quite the opposite.
In short, Muslim persecution of Christians exists in 41 nations today as part of a continuum—or “tradition”—that started nearly 14 centuries ago. As I document in Crucified Again: Exposing Islam’s New War on Christians, the very same patterns of Christian persecution prevalent throughout the Muslim world today are often identical to those from centuries past.
A final consideration… Keep reading

celticwarriorcanada says
Fascinating Comparison of the core differences between Communist and Islamic Persecution of Christianity ! Communism has killed its Thousands , but Islam its hundreds of thousands !
Angemon says
Meaning they’re all dominated by a cult of personality, but on an individual level – the cult of muhammad.
Jay Boo says
Do we want these hateful people in our Western democracies?
Muhammad was a REFUGEE
He murdered those who gave him refuge in Medina.
Keys says
@JayBoo “Muhammad was a REFUGEE. He murdered those who gave him refuge in Medina.”
Thanks, JayBoo. I had not connected that big dot to our refugee madness. Those who do not frequent Jihad Watch may not know that Muslims are to emulate their prophet, Mohammed.
Keys says
@Angemon. “Meaning they’re all dominated by a cult of personality, but on an individual level – the cult of muhammad.”
Exactly – one reason why I think the term Mohammedan refers to their cult better than Muslim.
balam says
The countries which are the worst enemies of the Christians happen to be the best friends of America. America seems to be Anti Christian as Saudi Arabia.No wonder ,the Americans put a MUSLIM in the White house for 8 long years and turned into BLACK HOUSE.: Pakistan is the worst country for Christians because of its heinous BLASPHEMY LAWS and yet it receives so much American Aid. I hope and pray that DONALD TRUMP becomes the next president and stops feeding the Muslim ungrateful snakes.
Sam says
These communist Asians think all Christians are peacefull which is of course wrong as there many non strong believing Christians in this world. Asians are cowards but when they sense a threat they start running screaming for help like little cats like the train attack in China by Muslims.
Jenny H says
Why are you making racist statements on this site?
Tim says
Excuse me Asians are the biggest cowards they bully harmless people come and see how they act in school in the west but in reality they are little cats that get scared from threats or when someone is series that is going to harm them. Most Asians have no moral or values they just abide by the law so they don’t lose money with the law as in court costs or even getting raped in jail.
Mazo says
US soldiers crying after ambush – YouTube
https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=5xqcrB6wyzo
American soldier crying for their life in America war irak
https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=MwNUMM4iRb0
Mazo says
Your people have been ruled, sodomized, and screwed by Arabs for 1,300 years and you haven’t had a native ruler of your land since the Persians took over it. If I were you wouldn’t go blowing my mouth out about cowardice.
Sam says
You are right Tim but there are good Asians I was referring to Chinese and Koreans who are atheists who are the worst but Japanese are awesome Asians.